US Strikes Qeshm Island as Trump Signals Opening for Iran Deal

US forces struck Iran’s Qeshm Island on November 2, American officials confirmed, as President Donald Trump publicly softened his position on renewed large-scale fighting. The operation, hours before the November 3 US midterm elections, was among several limited attacks carried out in recent weeks without public disclosure, according to The Wall Street Journal.

After warning for weeks that a major campaign against Tehran could follow the elections, Trump on November 2 rejected the prospect of an immediate attack and suggested diplomacy could yield results. Asked whether he was considering strikes after the vote, he answered, “No.” Administration officials nevertheless told the Journal that military options remained under consideration.

Some US officials described the recent operations to the Journal as defensive efforts to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. One said the administration had intentionally avoided publicizing them so they would not be interpreted as preparations to restart major combat. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported explosions on Qeshm on November 2. The Pentagon directed inquiries to US Central Command, which did not immediately answer RFE/RL’s request for comment.

Located at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, Qeshm overlooks a key international route for energy shipments. The Journal reported that the island contains an extensive underground missile installation, a naval base and a major desalination facility. American forces have attacked it during earlier fighting, and US officials have discussed taking control of it.

Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, told RFE/RL that the strikes sought to weaken Iran’s capacity to interfere with shipping, without necessarily changing its political decisions. Other recent US operations have targeted missile-launch locations, a dhow several days ago and a commercial ship that tried to breach the American blockade of Iranian trade several weeks ago.

Diplomatic exchanges have continued alongside the military activity. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have suggested that talks on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program could lead to an agreement, with Vance reporting progress. Trump also linked declining oil prices on social media to expectations that war would not resume. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on November 2 that the next move rested with Washington and described Tehran’s demands as clear and reasonable.

Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, have warned of retaliation both inside and outside the Middle East if Washington restarts the conflict. Senior US administration officials have considered additional air strikes, stronger economic sanctions and an expanded trade blockade. According to the Journal, Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper briefed Trump at the White House last week, while additional missile defenses and munitions have reached the region in recent weeks. US officials also advised Gulf countries to prepare for a brief, intense campaign after the elections, the newspaper reported.

Brett Erickson, a Middle East analyst and sanctions specialist at Obsidian Risk Advisors, told RFE/RL that the latest strikes carried escalation risks but broadly followed the pattern of recent limited engagements. He said Iran’s restrained responses to comparable incidents gave him little reason to expect this attack to substantially alter Tehran’s calculations.

Gregory Brew, an oil expert and senior analyst at Eurasia Group, told RFE/RL that the attacks indicated Washington was actively challenging Iranian control around the strait by hitting coastal targets. He said US reluctance to publicize the operations suggested caution about escalation, while Iran’s willingness to absorb them without retaliating indicated that both countries were weighing the risks of their confrontation.